Pinetown Boys’ learner to represent SA at world champs
Luvuyolwethu Mgqibisa will represent South Africa at the 9th World Kung Fu Championships which will be held in China. .
PINETOWN Boys’ High School learner Luvuyolwethu Mgqibisa has been selected as a Junior Wushu Protea athlete to represent South Africa in China at the 9th World Kung Fu Championships this August.
Luvuyolwethu started Kung Fu in 2019.
The Grade 11 learner said he was approached by coach Khayelihle Jali.
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“Coach Jali approached me after seeing that I was very active in sport activities when I was still in primary school,” said the former John Wesley School learner.
Despite the challenges they have faced in these few years, the KwaDabeka resident continues to soldier on and gives his best.
“We stopped training during lockdown – the hall we trained in collapsed so we now train in an open space which is not really ideal,” he said.
Asked about how he feels about this achievement, the young lad smiled and said, “I am very happy. I am very proud of myself. I love the person I have become. It is not really a popular sport, but it has changed my life – it gives me focus and a will to be the best,” he said.
The 17-year-old said he loves the sport culture and the discipline it comes with. “It helped me a lot to move away from negative things and have something positive to focus on,” he said.
The sportsman, who also plays for the school’s first rugby team, said he advis.es young people to focus and commit to positive things.
“For me, playing sport keeps me active and disciplined.”
Luvuyolwethu entered his first national competition (South African Wushu Trials and Championships) which were held in Gauteng province in September 2022 .
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He received gold and silver medals.
According to his coach, Luvuyolwethu is the first Junior Protea athlete in KwaZulu-Natal.
“The South African Wushu Federation (SAWF) is a full member of South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and as such is the only recognised governing body for Chinese Martial Arts in South Africa and consequently, the only institution authorised to award National Protea Colours for its athletes selected for the official SA National Wushu Team.”
Jali added that the SAWF is also affiliated to the African Wushu Kung-Fu Federation (AFWF) and the International Wushu Federation (IWUF).
“As the governing body for all Chinese Martial Arts throughout the world, the IWUF has recognition from, inter alia, the IOC and Sport Accord.”
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